House electric



Jan. 1, 1924 1,479,146

RE. MARBURYl WIRELESS RECEIVING SYSTEM Filed March 5. 1921 4 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. y;

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' INVENTOR I l i R/JEMfbU/Y MKM Y BY S atented Jen. l, i924 iran sraies g j afname PATENTk orion.

RALPH E. MARBURY, 0F EDC-.EWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANA, ASSIGNOR TO VESTING- IIOUSE ELECTRIC & liANUFACTRING COMPANY, A CORPOBATIQN OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

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Application ined Maren 5,1921. serial No. 449549,

To all whom t 'may concern.:

lle 1t known that l, RALPH E. MARBURY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident or' Edgewood Park, in the county of Al' One object'ot my invention is to amplify4 received signals in terms of .applied mechanical power.

Another objec change the flux-in a dynamo-electric ma! chine by means oiE signal currents to produce an amplified signal-current ell'ect inthe output of the machine.l

A still further object is to deviseapparatus that is simple in construction, durable and suitable for Yaccomplishing the above named objects.

For the amplification of current effects, such as received signal currents,amplilier vacuum tubes are customarily employed. The receiving circuits ot' vacuum tubes, opl erating as amplifiers, comprise plate and lila-ment batteries and a grid. batteryor a grid-leak resistance and condenser, which, together with the means tor coupling the circuits, tends to complicate the apparatus. The vacuum tubes are quite delicate and subject to breakage, and, particularly where subjected to sudden shocks `and jars., the elements within the tube may oe displaced', whereby 'the tube is rendered inoperative. 'lhie often occurs when vacuum-tube ampli-.ners are used in places where the appara'- tus receiveslicavy iolting, as in .war tanksy or aeroplanes. `Not only is the above true, but the lite of vacuum tubes under the most ideal conditions is comparatively limited.

In the use of myinvention, tliefrectitiet signaleurrent produces magnetic ei'ects in a dynamo-electric machine, and these mag netic effects produce greatly amplified changes in the output of the dyna1no-elec-- tric machine byA reasonof the. mechanical power applied to, the rotor oi a machine.

ln one 'forni of my apparatus', l employe( Receiving Systems, y of which lthe j t of my invention isk to a receiving circuit connected to the grid of a three-electrode vacuum tube in which the received current operates to change the potential of the grid of the tube. Connected in the plate circuit of the tube is a magnetizing winding on the stator of a dynamo-electric machine. The machine has another balancing magnetizing winning on its stator, and the current from the plate battery of the vacuum tube traverses the two balanced magnetizing windings in opposite directions, normally producing no magnetization of the stator.

A variable resistance may be adjusted to so balance thelelds or' 'the two magnetizing windings that they will cancelA each other. v

A condenser, operating as a by-pass for radio frequency, is shunted across the plate and filament of the electron tube.

Means for rotating` the rotor of i the dynamo-electric machine and means for detecting the current induced therein are provided. Current will be 'induced only upon the receipt ot incoming signals which 4disturb the balancing of the two magnetizing windings on the stator. TheV above outlined system is typical ol .one whichmay be employed for the receipt of undamped or unheterodyned telegraphic signals. n

l/Vhere damped signals are received, it is unnecessary'to use balancingl magnetizing windings on the stator Since a change in 'the normal current output of the dynamoelectric machine may be easily detected. l may employ,l if found necessary, means comprising saturation coils to bring the stator toa degree of magnetization close to the knee of the saturation curve so that received signals of unusual loudness or static will be damped out.

Inother forms ot' apparatus embodying my .invention to avoid the gemerator ripple, l use hoinopolar machinee, and tor greater amplification, may cascade th same. y n p f ln the drawings:

Figure l illustrates diagrammaticallj; a system for the receipt ofundamped telegraphic signals.r l o Fig. -2.,diagrammatically illustratesA a modiication'of the scheme shown in Fig. l,

adapted to the receipt of damped, heterodyned or'speech signals.`

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Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration ol' a modification ot' the scheine shown in Y 2, in which ineans for damping out signa ot' unusual loudness or static is shown.

Fig. shows, diagramA iatical tem in which hoincpola-r ge-nei( ors a.re used to avoid the generator ripple and cascaded to obtain a multiplied amplification of the received signal current.

Fig. 5 illustrates, diagrannnatlically, a inoditication of the scheine shown in e, 'which is adapted for the receipt ot undarnped .telegraphc signals.

Referring to 1, l have shown an antenna circuit coinprisiiul an antenna l, an inductance device 2, and a variable capacitance device 3 by means ot which the antenna system may be tuned 'to any desired irequen'cy. The grid circuit ot' a three-electrode vacuum-tube 4 is conductively coupled to the inductance device 2. The inducta-nce device 2 is shunted by a varia le capacitance device 5 by nieans of which the grid circuit may be tuned to the desired frequency, lil/lithin the grid circuit is located a :grid condenser 6 shunted by a grid-leak resistor 7, lor performing the function of maintaininl the grid at a negative value, as the customary practice in the use oit three-electrode vacuurn tubes as amplifiers ot received signals. The vacuum tube e has a grid element 8, a pla-te element 9, and a lilainent 10, which last is heated by a `iilainent battery 11. A plate batterv 12 supplies current tor the plate circuit of the vacuum tube 4L.

Located Within the plate circuit ot the vacuum tube l is a niaginetizing Winding 13 upon a stator 141- ot a dynamo-electric nia chine 15. The iilainent 10 and the plate element 9 are shunted by a condenser 16, acting as a by-pass for radio frequency. Lilie- Wise located upon the stator 141 is a second inagnetizing Windingn 17 through which current from the plate battery 12 vflows in the opposite direction `from the ioiv ot the current through the inagnetizing Winding' y means of a suitable resistance 18 in the circuit comprising the niagnetizingV Winding 17, the 1nagnetizingeliect of `the magnetbaing Winding 13 inay be normally balanced by the effect of the winding 17.

The dynamo-electric niachine 15 provided with a rotor 19 driven by means oft an electric motor 20, `or any other suitable source ot power. The rotor 19 is provided with collector rings 21 and 22, upon which brushes 23 and 24 are adapted, respectively, to bear. Telephone receivers are connect-ed in the circuit comprising the luushcs 23 and 24.

This Jforni of apparatus is particularly adapted to receive undaniped telegraphic signals. `llhen the antenna circuit coinprising theantenna 1, vthe inductauce device 2 and the variable capacitance .device is tuned to the frequency of the undaniped Wave to be received, oscillations are set up in the grid circuit ot the three-electrode vacuiun tube il, which is conductively connected to .the ind-uctance de "ice-2 and is tuned to `the desired frequency by varying the capacitance of device 5.

The potential of the grid 8 is varied in accordance With the oscillations received,

' and the effect ot the change in grid potential is amplified in the plate circuit ot the tube. The vacuum tube loperates not only as an amplilier but as a rectifier ot the received signals. The unidirectional amplified signal current flowing' in the inagnetizinggn Winding 13, located in the plate circuit ot the `tube 4l, causes the balance between the niagnetizing windings 13 and 17 to be disturbed so that the stator 14 becomes magnetized, ,is `soon as lines of magnetic torce are set up in the stator 14 there is an output from the rotor 19. The speed oft' the rotation of vthe rotor is approximately such that one thou-sand cycles will be impressed on the telephone receivers. The output is greatly magnified by reason ot the application ot mechanical power .to .the rotor 19 through the inotor 20., and a greatly amplied signal is hea-rd iu the telephone receivers 25 .connected through brushes 23 and .24 to the collector rings 21 and 22.. respectively, of the rotor 19.

lt, -in any particular case, the residual magnetism interferes with the balancing' ot the two balancing' inductances 13 and 17 it is practically feasible to accomplish the balancing` at the phone end .by means of a tivo- Winding` transformer having a middle point through which the telephone receivers niay be connected.

Since .the inagnetiz'ing .current of .a dynamo-electric machine, operating' as a generator, is only a small per cent oit' the output current.. there is, in system .such as l have just described, a tremendous amplification ot signal current, for., in my inreutiou. the sig. al .current is the magnetiZineY current, and the application ot mechanical .power :to the Yrotor accomplishes the amplification.

Referring to Fiat. 2, I bave diagrammatical'lyshe-vin a modification for the receipt of damped. heterodyned or telephonie sigg als, in some respects similar to .the scheine illus4 trated in 1 The receiving- .or iuputcircuit In the Hirse-electrode Vacuum tube i is .the saine but the Vplate circuit oit tbe tube coniprises a plate battery 2G and .inductive niuf" 27 and The inductive winding@ 27 and 28ers located outlie .stator 290i a dynamo-electric in acliine iaving a rotoi` 32 and a couunutator Brushes 34 and 3,5 collect thecurrent 'troni .the cornrnutator and telephone'receivers are connected across the brushes k34 and lnoperation, .there isnorinally a constant pla-te current .flowing in the plate circuit oi' the vacuum tube 4, which, by reason of the rotation of the rotor 32, through power derived from the motor 20, gives a constant current through the telephone receivers v36. This current,y being` constant, produces no audible eect inthe telephone receivers. However, upon receipt of va spark, heterodyned or voice signal in the antenna circuit, the current fiowing in the .plate cir` cuit of. the electron tube 4 isv varied in accordance with the incoming signal. The signal current is rectified and amplified by the vacuum tube 4, and there will be a change in the magnetic flux in the stator 29, by reason of the added signal current flow,- ing in the inductance windings 27 and 28.

The effect ofthis signal current will be am-L plified in the rotor circuit, by reason ofthe power applied to the rotor, and a greatly amplified signal will be heard in the telephone receivers 36. n

. In Fig. 3 I have shown a system similar to the system shown' in Fig. 2. In this modification, I have shown auxiliary windings 37 wound on the stator 29 and a source of direct current 38 which may be regulated to any desired value for supplying current to the windings 37.

The purpose of the windings 37 is to adjust the degree of saturation of the stator 29 to a point near the lrneeof the saturation curve, so that unusually loud signals or static may be damped out in the telephone receivers 36. When operating beyond the knee of the saturationcurve, a large increase in magnetizing force makes `but a small increase in fiuX, and, therefore, static or unusually loud received signals will not cause an undue increase inthe current owing in the rotor circuit which comprises the telephone receivers.

In the'scheme illustrated in Fig. 4,`Iv

employ antenna circuits and vacuum-tube circuits somewhat similar to those shown in the other modifications. In this modification, the plate circuit of the vacuum tube' 4 comprises a condenser 40 acting as a bypass for radio frequency, a plate battery4l and inductive windings 42 located upon a stator 43 of a homopolar generator 44. The homopolar generator 44 hasa rotor 45 mounted on a shaft 46.' The 'shaft' 46 is rotated by au electric motor 47 or any other suitable source of power and is journalled, at its end opposite the rotor 47, .in a bearing 48. y

Contacting with the rotor '45 of the homopolar generator 44 are brushes 4S) and' an inductive winding `53 wound on a stator are 59 of a third homopolar generator 61. Mounted on the shaft 46 is a rotor 62 of the homopolar generator 6l. In contact with the rotor 62 are brushes 63 and 64 connected in circuit 'with an inductance device 65 forming the primary of an audio-frequency transformer 66. The secondary circuit of the Vaudio-frequency transformer 66 comprises a secondary inductance 67 and telephone receivers 68.

. Under normal conditions, when no signal is being received, there is a normal flow of plate current in the plate circuit of the vacuum tube 4. This produces, through the inductive winding 42 on the stator 43 of the homopolar generator 44, a constant magnetic field. By reason of the power applied to the shaft 46 through t-he motor 47, the rotor is caused to rotate, and an amplified current is induced in the rotor 45 and collected by the brushes 49 and 5l. This amplified current produces a magnetic field, through the inductive winding 52, in the stator 53 of the homopolar generator 54.

The rotation of the rotor 55 of the generator 54 induces an amplified current in the rotor that is collected by the brushes 56 and 57, and this current through the inductive winding 58 induces a strong magnetic field in the stator 59 of the homopolar generator 6l. Greatly amplified current is collected by the brushes 63 and 64 from the rotor 62 and this amplified current flows through the primary inductance 65 of the audiofrequency transformer66. This currenty is of constant value, however, and, therefore, induces no current in the circuit comprising the secondary inductance 67and the telephone receiversV 68.

When signal current vis received, the amount of current flowing in the inductance 42 of the plate circuit of the vacuum tube 4 is increased in accordance with the received oscillations. Therewill be an increase in the number of lines of magnetic flux in the stator 43 of the homopolar generator 44 in accordance with the strength of the signal. This increase in current is amplified through thehomopolar generators 44 and 54, and 6l,by reason of their cascading. The output of the homopolar generator 44 operates to increase the magnetizing current of the rhomopolar generator 54, which-r in turn, increases the magnetizing current of the homopolar generator 61., and a tremendous amplification accomplished by this cascading. The amplified signal current, consisting of spark, speech, or heterodyned received signals, induces greatly amplified oscillations in the primary` inductance 65 ofthe audio-frequency transformer 66, and these oscillations are, in turn, induced in the circuit comprising the secondary in ductance 67 and the telephone receiversGS. 'By en'iploying homopolar generators,l I

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n 2 and By cascading the generators so that the current. induced in the rotor of one Achine :furnishes the niagnetizing current tor the nest machine, l obtain a grcatlv increased amplilication ot kthe received signal, and, `in the scheme shown in Fig. by mounting all orp the rotors on one power shaft, I obtain strength and siniplicity ot construction.

in the scheine shown in Fig. 5 I have adapted the arrangement illustrated in Fig. for the receipt of undainped telegraphic signals. ln this arrangement, the plate circuit oi" the electron tube 4rcomprises .a balancing inductance T1, a .plate battery E2 and a condenser T3 acting as a by-:pass 'tor -rad=iovfrequency oscillations. .Connected to the `plate battery 72 is a second :balancing `inductance The amount ot .current Viiovving through the balancing inductance 74 is controlled by means o'c a vvariable resistance 75. By a suitable adjustment ot the variable resistance 75, the points 76 and 77 may be normally adjusted to have the same potential, and, therefore, the inductive vinding i2, connected kacross points 76 and 7'? and 4located on the stator i3 O' lthe first homopolar generator Lief, will normally have no current 'liowing through it.

Tie connections between the hoinopolar generators are like those shown in Fig. 4i. Connected to the brushes and 64; `otthe laat generator, is an inductive winding S1, upon a stator Aoi. generator having a rotor 82. The rotor 82 is rotated by means of a motor S3 or any other suitable source of power. The speed or" rotation of the rotor is such that approximately a thousand cycies will be generated in the rotor circuit. The rotor is provided wich a. commutator Se and collector rings S5 and 86. 1Contacting with the collector rings 85 and 8.6 aro brushes '87 and 88, which are connected in circuit with telephone receivers 89.

er suitable switch 91 provides means'itor connecting the telephone receivers 89 in circuit with the ,collector rings or tor breaking said circuit. Connected in circuit with the commutator 84 are leads 92 and 93 leading to a. suitable recording apparatus, (not shown) tor operating the same. .A switch 9e provides ineens whereby the circuit may be broken through the recording` apparatus. Ry closing the switch 91 and opening the switch 94:, the telephone receivers may be used to catch the signal or by opening the switch `9,1 and closing the switch'QL the sigal may be received vby some suitable recording apparatus.

As betere mentioned, when no signal is being received, by vproper adjustment of the resistance 75, the `points 76 `and 77 may be 'i ,creme lnade to have the saine potential, and no current. will non' Athrough the niagnetieing finduct-ance e2, wound on Vthe stator i3 ot the irst homopolar generator dei in the series ci cascaded hoinopolar generators. ence, when no signal is received, there will be no current induced in any ci the homop'olar generators, :and no current will then flow through the inductance 7.8 wound on the stator T9 of the generator 81. Under these conditions, no current will iiow either in the telephone receivers or in the recorder connected in the recorder circuit.

'When a signal olii' undamped waves is received, there will be a difference in potential between the `points 'lb' and 77, vand current will tiow Vin the `magnetizing inductance rlhis current will be amplilied through the hoinopolar generators and will cause a greatly ampliiied current to fic-w in the inagnetizing inductancc wound on the Astator .ot the generator .81. is 4betere mentioned, the speed of rotation o-t' the rotor 82 is approx` imately such fthatit '-.fill give a thousand cycles alternating current in case the circuit through the collector rings and telephone receivers 89 is closed. The amplified signal will be plainly audible in the telephone receivers. lf desired, the switch 91 may be opened and the switch '1% closed, in which case, Ythe direct .current ytaken from lthe cominutator 84C will iiow through leads 92 and 93 to operate the recording mechanism.

Since l have not shown all the possible modifications ot' my invention which may be conceived rby yone-skilled in the art, desire that my invention shall be limited only by the showing off the prior art and Vby the scope ot the lappended claims.

l claim as my invention:

1. A system tor amplifying received signal current comprising a vsource yci unidirectional signal current, a dynamo-electric machine, a source of power operating the rotor of the machine, a steady source o-t` excitation 'or said machine, and means affected by the unidirectional signal current Vfor producing a change in magnetic this in t-he vmachine Vto effect. current output.

2. A syste-rn for amplifying received signal current comprising` a dynamo-electric machine, a source et' power operating the rotor ot the machine, a `sternly source ci enitation for said 'niachind and means 'tor causing the. signal current Ato yn'oduce a change vin magnetic flux' in the machine to eiiect the current out-put.

S. A system for thc ainpliiication ot received signal current comprising asignalcurrent input circuit, a dynamo-electric machine having viield and armature members, means tor supi'lyinga unidirectional eX- citation to said Iiield member, means for causing the signal current to produce a change in magnet-ic nur in said field inemllt) CLI

ber, and an output circuit incircuit with said armature member for utilizing` the resultant change output of the machine.

ln a telephone system, the combination with an inputl circuit carrying received telephone currents, ci a dynamoelectricgenerator, means for driving said.' generator, a

telephone receiver responsive to the output circuit or said generator, means for normally exciting said generator to cause the same to deliver' a current incapable oi' audi-r bly aiiecting said telephone receiver, and means responsive to said input circuit for .f'arying the excitation oi said generator'.

5. system tor the amplilication oit received radio-signal rcurrent comprising a source of referred signal current, a dynamoelectric machine having a stator and a rotor, an inductive winding on the stator in circuit vith the rectified signal current, means ier normally supplying` a constant component of excitation to the stator, means for rotating` the rotor, a commutator on the rotor, brushes for the commutator, a circuit connected across the brushes, and a telephone receiver operativeiy associated with said' circuit.

6. A system for the amplilication of receive-l radio signal current comprising a receiving circuit, an electron tube in circuit with 'the receiving` circuit Ltor changing the potential of the grid oi' the tube, a dynamo* electric machine having a stator and a rotor, an inductive winding` on the stator in circuit with the plate circuit of the electron tube, a plate battery, means to rotate the rotor, and means in circuit with the rotor for detecting a change in current output of the machine.

7. A system for the amplification ot received signal current comprising a receiving circuit.y an electron tube, means in circuit with the receiving circuit for changing the potential of the grid of the tube, a dynamoelectric machine having a stator and a rotor, inductive windings on the stator in circuit with the plate circuit of the electron tube,

a plate battery, a condenser operating asa by-pass for radio frequency shunted across the filament and plate of the electron tube, means to rotate the rotor and' means in circuit with the rotor for detecting a change in the current output oi' the machine.

8. A system i'orthe amplification of received signal current comprising a receiving circuit, an electron tube, means in circuit with the receiving circuit Jfor changing the potential of the grid of the tube, a dynamo-electric machine having a stator and a rotor, inductive windings on the stator in circuit with the plate circuit of the electron tube, a plate battery, a condenser operating as a by-pass for radio :trequency shunted across the filament and plate ot the electron tube, means to rotate the rotor, a commutator, brushes therefor and telephone receivers connected across the brushes.

9. A system for the ampliication of re` ceived signalv current comprising a source oi rectified signal current, ar dynamo-electric rmachine having a stator and a rotor, inductive windings on the stator in circuit with the rectified signal current, means to keep the stat-or at point near saturation, means to rotate the rotor and means in circuit with the rotor for detecting a change inthe cur rent output of the machine.

l0. A system for the ampliiication ot received signal current compris ig a source of rectified signal current, a dynamo-electric machine having'a stator and rotor, inductive windings on the stator in circuit with the rectified signal current, auxiliary windings on the stator, means to regulate the current lowing through the auxiliary windings to keep the stator at a point near saturation, means to rotate the rotor and means in circuit with the rotor for detecting a change incurrent output of the machine.

11. A system for the amplification of received radio signal current comprising a receiving circuit, an eiectron tube, means in circuit with the receiving circuit Jfor changing the potential or the grid of the tube, a dynamo-electric machine having a stator and a rotor, inductive windings on the stator in stator at a point near saturation, means to rotate the rotor and means in circuit with the rotor for detecting a change in current output of the machine.

l2. A system for the amplification of received signalcurrent comprising a receiving circuit, an electron tube, means in circuit with the receiving circuit for changing thepotential of the grid of the tube, a dynamo-electric machine having a stator and a rotor, inductive windings cnthe stator iu circuit with the plate circuit or the electron tube, auxiliary windings on the stator, means to regulate the current flowing through the auxiliaryk windings to keep the stator at a point near saturation, a con denser operating as a by-pass ttor radio frequency shunted across the filament and plate of the electron tube, means to rotate the rotor, a commutator, brushes therefor and telephone receivers connected across the brushes.

13. A system for the amplification of received signal current comprising` a signalcurrent input circuit, a dynamo-electric ma-l chine having iield and armature members, means for exciting said machine to a point near the knee ot the magnetization curve and means tor changing the excitation in tion with en input circuit carrying received telephone cni'ients. of a dynai'nceeiectric geneaor, moans ror driving se-idf generatoi, :i 'eicphone receiver responsive 'to the cnpu. circuit of Seid gcnezitoi', ineens for noi'nniilj' @xviii anni tjeneifziior to Cause the ,Canine io :gici'iiei zi emfi'enfo incapable of :iiif'iibiy fil-fe ig Suid eiephonc receiver, :uid menne i'eeponeive oesiid input circuit :For Ve'jving i'he excitaion of said genciiitoi', Said generato-ihaving; :i iniigneizeble mag? netlie ciicuiioi' circuits oi:- euch dimensione, wi'h respect o H eieiiiiiigif Filme-S5 ihzis1345- inzition conditions are obtained with extremely large received curi-ents.

l5. je sjsteni for ainpiiifying received sip; nel current comprising a Source of unidirectional. eig-nai. current', u. dynanw-eiectric machine. :i Soni'ee of power opeiating the i-cioi of the machine, a4 steady Source of ei citeion for sa'd machine, and ineens ai fected bythe unidirectional signal oni-rent for producing e change in inegneic fin-1 in the machine to effec?, current outgnt, seid nia-- chine inning' a, niagnetiabie niegneic ciicui oiciicuite of such dinn-:nfsione Wih respect. iio che exciting iinice. tha Szii'in'iitimi Conditions are obeiicii with eiiemciy lailge. i'eceifcii cnii'enf n testimony wher-coi?, have hereunto subscribed my naine iiis ili dey of February, 1921.

RALPH E. i 

